Gas mask



March 16, 1948. RlcH r 2,437,755

- as MASK Filed March 3, 1945 5 Sheets-Shee 1 FIGJ mvem'oa CARL RICHATTORNEY H m R Q GAS MASK Filed March I5, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 MS mm nmmmw T we mm M W c March 16, 1948. c. RICH 2,437,755

GAS MASK Filed March 5, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR CARLRJCHATTORNEYS C. RICH GAS MASK March 16, 1948.

Filed Mafoh s, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR CARL RICH W am ATTORNEY.C. RICH March .16, 1948.

GAS MASK Filed March 3, l945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 \NVENTOR "CARL.R\CH

Patented Mar. 16, 1948 GAS MASK Carl Rich, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,a'ssignor of one-half to Paul Koenig, Montreal, Quebec,

Canada Application March 3, 1945, Serial No. 580,760

' 2 Claims. (01. 128-141) This invention relates to gas masks and theobject is to provide a mask equipped with novel means of adjustmentwhereby the mask may be quickly and conveniently applied and adjusted toprovide a gas-tight enclosure for the head and neck of the wearer.

Other objects, advantages and characteristic features of the inventionwill be more readily understood from the following detailed descriptionof the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevationalview of my improved gas mask.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view.

Fig. 3 is a side view.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 5 is a side view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the front closuremember of the mask in open position.

As shown in these drawings my improved mask includes a flexible fabrichood 5 comprising a head covering portion 6, a neck portion 1 and ashoulder covering portion 8. Head section 6 (see Fig. 5) is providedwith a front opening 9 and is secured to an external metal head frame lprovided with a front opening ll. When the mask is in use the frontopenings 9 and H are closed by a closure member I2 comprising atransparent window element 13 mounted in a metal frame l4.

The upper edge portion of closure member I2 is hinged to metal headframe ID by a spring hinge 15 which normally tends to swing closuremember I2 to closed position. Closure member 12 is opened against theresistance of hinge I by means of a knob or handle member 16 at tachedto the lower marginal portion of said closure member. In its closedposition, member l2 seats against an air-filled sealing tube I! which,

is attached to the metal head frame Ill so that it borders the frontopening I I. Closure member i2 is pressed tightly against sealing tube Hby clips l8 removably secured to metal head frame I0 by screws l9. Theseclips are easily displaced or removed to permit swinging of closuremember l2 to open position.

The metal head frame l0 comprises side plates 25 and a strap portion 2|,the latter extending rearwardly from the upper edge of the front portionof the head frame across the top and then downwardly along the back ofthe head portion 6 of hood 5.

As shown to advantage in Fig. 2, the free end of strap portion 2| isprovided with lateral extensions 22 which are overlapped by rearwardlydirected extensions 23 of the side plates 20. Each extension 22 isprovided with a threaded member 24 which works in a slot 25 in theoverlapping extension 23 and is provided with a clamping nut 26. Thefree ends of extensions 23 are connected by a coil spring 21 having itsends fastened to pins 28 held in place by sleeve portions 29 of saidextensions. The springs 21 tend to draw the extensions 23 toward eachother to thereby contract the lower portion of the head covering 5 aboutthe head of the wearer. The threaded members 24 and associated clampingnuts 26 provide means for clamping the extensions 23 to the extensions22 when it is desired to secure the extensions 23 in adjusted position.

That portion of strap 2| which extends over the top of head covering 6is provided with lateral extensions 32 which are overlapped byextensions 33 of the side plates 26 of head frame in. The free ends ofthe extensions 33 are connected by a spring 34 whose ends are anchoredto pins 35 held in place by sleeve portions 36 of said extensions. Theextensions 33 are also provided with slots 38 for passage of threadedbolts or posts 35 carried by the underlying extensions 32 of strap 2 I,said bolts or posts 39 being equipped with clamping nuts 40 for securingthe extensions 33 in different positions of adjustment. It will thus beseen that the extensions 32 and 33 provide, in conjunction with thespring 34 and clamping nuts 49, a means for contracting or adjusting thetop of the head portion 6 of hood 5.

The shoulder portion 8 of hood 5 is reinforced by metal plates 4| and 42which are hingedly connected together by hinge connections generallyindicated at 43 and are also yieldingly connected by spring connections44. Each hinge connection 43 comprises a hinged member 45 fastened toplate 4| and having one end lapping the corresponding end of a similarhinged member 46 secured to plate 42, the lapped ends of the two hingedmembers being secured together by a pivot 41 permitting a slight lateralseparation of the plates 45 and 46 which is resisted by the springconnections 44. This lateral separation of the plates 45 and 46 enablesthe neck portion of hood 5 to be expanded somewhat when the mask isbeing slipped over the head of the wearer.

The shoulder portion 8 of hood 5 is also provided with underlyingcushioning or sealing strips 49 which are pulled downwardly against theshoulder portion and the adjacent front and back portions of the wearersbody by adjustment of straps 50 which have their upper ends suitablyfastened to the shoulder portion of the mask and their lower endsfastened to a waist or body encircling belt 5|. In this connection itwill be understood that, after the body encircling belt 5| has beentightened in place about the wearer, the straps 50 may be adjusted topull the shoulder portion of the mask tightly against the shoulder ofthe wearer so that the sealing and cushioning strips 49 will seal theneck portion of the hood.

The head covering portion 6 of hood 5 is provided with an air or oxygeninlet 54 to which a flexible hose 55 is connected, a portion of saidhose being passed through and held in place by retaining clips 56fastened to the metal shoulder plate 4|.

When the mask is in use, air or oxygen is supplied through hose 55 at apressure sufficiently higher than atmospheric pressure to prevent inwardleakage of gas around the closure I2 or other possible points ofleakage. The foul air is permitted to escape from the head covering 5through a suitable opening such, for example, 1

as the vent opening indicated at 51 in Fig. 1.

The neck portion '1 of the hood may be pleated or otherwise formed topermit of considerable expansion thereof when the mask is being slippedover the head of the wearer. In order to take up this expansion afterthe mask is in place the neck portion may be provided with widelyseparated hooks 59 adapted to be hooked into opposite ends of adetachable connecting loop 68.

The body encircling belt 5| may be provided with crotch straps indicatedat 65 in Fig. 1 adapted to be passed around the crotch of the wearer toassist in holding the mask down upon the shoulders of the wearer.

Having thus described the nature of my invention it will be understoodthat various modifications maybe resorted to within the scope and spiritof the invention as defined by the appended ciaims.

I claim:

1. A gas mask comprising a flexible fabric hood including a head portionand an adjustable metal head frame overlying and secured to the headportion, said head frame including a front portion having an openingtherein registering with an opening in the head portion of the hood, atransparent member closing said openings, side plates joined to thefront portion of the head frame, and a strap extending rearwardly fromthe upper edge of the front portion of the head frame across the top anddownwardly along the back of the head portion of the hood, said sideplates being provided with resiliently connected extensions lapping andslidably secured to complementary extensions of said strap to providefor expansion and contraction of the head frame.

2. A gas mask comprising a flexible fabric hood including head, neck andshoulder portions, an adjustable metal head frame overlying and securedto the head portion of the hood, said head frame being adjustable toprovide for expansion and contraction of the head portion of the hood,and a pair of metal shoulder plates overlying and secured to theshoulder portion of the hood, said shoulder plates being hingedlyconnected together at opposite ends thereof.-

CARL RICH.

REFERENCES crrEn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 518,822 Moran Apr. 24, 18941,075,906 Duncan et al Oct. 14, 1913 1,113,062 Sparks Oct. 6, 19141,410,927 Knoblock Mar. 28, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date838,138 France Feb. 28, 1939

